The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

We present results from a spectroscopic survey designed to uncover AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) binaries hidden in the photometric database of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The discovery of only 7 new AM CVns in the observed part of our sample suggests a lower space density than previously p...

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Main Authors: P. J. Carter, T. R. Marsh, D. Steeghs, E. Breedt, C. M. Copperwheat, B. T. Gansicke, P. J. Groot, G. Nelemans
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Technical University in Prague 2015-02-01
Series:Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings
Online Access:https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/APP/article/view/2883
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author P. J. Carter
T. R. Marsh
D. Steeghs
E. Breedt
C. M. Copperwheat
B. T. Gansicke
P. J. Groot
G. Nelemans
author_facet P. J. Carter
T. R. Marsh
D. Steeghs
E. Breedt
C. M. Copperwheat
B. T. Gansicke
P. J. Groot
G. Nelemans
author_sort P. J. Carter
collection DOAJ
description We present results from a spectroscopic survey designed to uncover AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) binaries hidden in the photometric database of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The discovery of only 7 new AM CVns in the observed part of our sample suggests a lower space density than previously predicted. Based on the complete g≤19 sample, we calculate an observed space density for AM CVns of (5 ± 3) × 10<sup>−7</sup> pc<sup>−3</sup>. We also compare the cataclysmic variables (CVs) discovered via this survey to those found in the SDSS spectroscopy, and we discuss SBSS 1108+574, an unusually helium-rich CV that has a spectroscopically confirmed orbital period of 55 minutes, well below the CV period minimum (~80 min). SBSS 1108+574 may represent an AM CVn forming via the ‘evolved CV’ formation channel.
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spelling doaj-art-cf061cc0c98e49b8b913d4c2905f4f5c2025-08-20T03:19:52ZengCzech Technical University in PragueActa Polytechnica CTU Proceedings2336-53822015-02-012117818210.14311/APP.2015.02.01782645The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky SurveyP. J. Carter0T. R. Marsh1D. Steeghs2E. Breedt3C. M. Copperwheat4B. T. Gansicke5P. J. Groot6G. Nelemans7Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7ALDepartment of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7ALDepartment of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7ALDepartment of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7ALAstrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, IC2, Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RFDepartment of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7ALDepartment of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the NetherlandsDepartment of Astrophysics/IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands Institute for Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001 Leuven, BelgiumWe present results from a spectroscopic survey designed to uncover AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) binaries hidden in the photometric database of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The discovery of only 7 new AM CVns in the observed part of our sample suggests a lower space density than previously predicted. Based on the complete g≤19 sample, we calculate an observed space density for AM CVns of (5 ± 3) × 10<sup>−7</sup> pc<sup>−3</sup>. We also compare the cataclysmic variables (CVs) discovered via this survey to those found in the SDSS spectroscopy, and we discuss SBSS 1108+574, an unusually helium-rich CV that has a spectroscopically confirmed orbital period of 55 minutes, well below the CV period minimum (~80 min). SBSS 1108+574 may represent an AM CVn forming via the ‘evolved CV’ formation channel.https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/APP/article/view/2883
spellingShingle P. J. Carter
T. R. Marsh
D. Steeghs
E. Breedt
C. M. Copperwheat
B. T. Gansicke
P. J. Groot
G. Nelemans
The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Acta Polytechnica CTU Proceedings
title The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
title_full The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
title_fullStr The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
title_full_unstemmed The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
title_short The Hidden Population of AM CVn Binaries in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
title_sort hidden population of am cvn binaries in the sloan digital sky survey
url https://ojs.cvut.cz/ojs/index.php/APP/article/view/2883
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